An Argument from Divine Beauty Against Divine Simplicity

Topoi 36 (4):657-664 (2017)
  Copy   BIBTEX

Abstract

Some versions of the doctrine of divine simplicity imply that God lacks really differentiated parts. I present a new argument against these views based on divine beauty. The argument proceeds as follows: God is beautiful. If God is beautiful, then this beauty arises from some structure. If God’s beauty arises from a structure, then God possesses really differentiated parts. If these premises are true, then divine simplicity is false. I argue for each of the argument’s premises and defend it against objections, including an objection based on analogical predication, and an objection that supposes that God is simple while appearing complex.

Similar books and articles

Simply Impossible: A Case Against Divine Simplicity.R. T. Mullins - 2013 - Journal of Reformed Theology 7 (2):181-203.
The deadlock of absolute divine simplicity.Yann Schmitt - 2013 - International Journal for Philosophy of Religion 74 (1):117-130.
Divine Simplicity and Divine Freedom in Maimonides and Gersonides.David Bradshaw - 2012 - Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association 86:75-87.
Against Divine Truthmaker Simplicity.Noël B. Saenz - 2014 - Faith and Philosophy 31 (4):460-474.
Divine Perfection and Creation.R. T. Mullins - 2016 - Heythrop Journal 57 (1):122-134.
Making Sense of Divine Simplicity.Jeffrey E. Brower - 2008 - Faith and Philosophy 25 (1):3-30.
Aquinas on Divine Simplicity.John Lamont - 1997 - The Monist 80 (4):521-538.
Aquinas, Divine Simplicity, and Divine Freedom.W. Matthews Grant - 2003 - Proceedings of the American Catholic Philosophical Association 77:129-144.
Criteria of the Divine attribution.A. Shirzad - unknown - Kheradnameh Sadra Quarterly 18.

Analytics

Added to PP
2016-06-11

Downloads
2,082 (#4,083)

6 months
156 (#18,942)

Historical graph of downloads
How can I increase my downloads?

Author's Profile

Matthew Baddorf
Walters State Community College

Citations of this work

9 God and Perfect Beauty.Peter Forrest - 2024 - In Mirosław Szatkowski (ed.), Ontology of Divinity. De Gruyter. pp. 195-220.
God and the grounding of morality.David James Redmond - 2018 - Dissertation, University of Iowa
Omni-beauty as a divine attribute.Robson Jon - 2019 - Religious Studies 55 (1):55-75.

Add more citations

References found in this work

Confessions.R. S. Augustine & Pine-Coffin - 2019 - Hackett Publishing Company.
Summa Theologica.Thomasn D. Aquinas - 1273 - Hayes Barton Press. Edited by Steven M. Cahn.
The Metaphysics of Beauty.Nick Zangwill - 2001 - Ithaca: Cornell University Press.

View all 34 references / Add more references